The sensors of the future will be able to work from thermogenerators
French physicists have developed the architecture of a miniature computer device that does not need to change batteries. It extracts energy directly from the environment, by heating its body. This is possible due to the Seebeck effect: the generation of current on the temperature difference between two metal plates.
Sensors themselves are a key element of the cyberpunk vision of the future. It is assumed that they will be embedded in all significant objects of the physical world, connected to a single network and provided with IP addresses (for this purpose, IPv6 is being implemented). In this situation, there is only one problem: how to power these devices? If the sensors on the surface of the human body or inside it can be powered by the breakdown of glucose, then what to do with sensors, in the vicinity of which there is no nutrient biological material?
Scientists from Grenoble (France) presented the results of their work at the International Conference on Semiconductor Chips . The circuit shown by them describes a miniature charger that collects energy from the environment. Its main part is a 1-volt thermoelectric generator for direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy. Besides it, there is an energy receiver (RF power receiver), an electricity converter (converter), a discharge monitor (it consumes only 5 nanowatts) and a microbattery for charge accumulation. Microbattery area of 30 square meters. mm consists of thin films on top of the silicon chip, writes EE Times .
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According to scientists, a thermoelectric generator is ideal for autonomous powering of sensors. It does not require human intervention, it has no moving mechanical parts. The conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy is based on the Seebeck effect : in a closed system, an electric current arises between two metals with different temperatures. The French thermoelectric generator has a capacity of 4 mW per square meter. see surfaces with a temperature difference of 1 ° C. When the temperature difference of 60 ° C creates a voltage of 1 V. About 78% of the energy collected from the generator, enters the battery.
Autonomous devices equipped with similar chargers will be able to provide themselves with energy throughout the entire life cycle. It is a critical technology for creating an intelligent environment and software applications based on it.
By the way, not only French scientists are working in this direction. Their colleagues from the German company EnOcean are already preparing a commercial version of a similar product.
Sensors themselves are a key element of the cyberpunk vision of the future. It is assumed that they will be embedded in all significant objects of the physical world, connected to a single network and provided with IP addresses (for this purpose, IPv6 is being implemented). In this situation, there is only one problem: how to power these devices? If the sensors on the surface of the human body or inside it can be powered by the breakdown of glucose, then what to do with sensors, in the vicinity of which there is no nutrient biological material?
Scientists from Grenoble (France) presented the results of their work at the International Conference on Semiconductor Chips . The circuit shown by them describes a miniature charger that collects energy from the environment. Its main part is a 1-volt thermoelectric generator for direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy. Besides it, there is an energy receiver (RF power receiver), an electricity converter (converter), a discharge monitor (it consumes only 5 nanowatts) and a microbattery for charge accumulation. Microbattery area of 30 square meters. mm consists of thin films on top of the silicon chip, writes EE Times .
')
According to scientists, a thermoelectric generator is ideal for autonomous powering of sensors. It does not require human intervention, it has no moving mechanical parts. The conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy is based on the Seebeck effect : in a closed system, an electric current arises between two metals with different temperatures. The French thermoelectric generator has a capacity of 4 mW per square meter. see surfaces with a temperature difference of 1 ° C. When the temperature difference of 60 ° C creates a voltage of 1 V. About 78% of the energy collected from the generator, enters the battery.
Autonomous devices equipped with similar chargers will be able to provide themselves with energy throughout the entire life cycle. It is a critical technology for creating an intelligent environment and software applications based on it.
By the way, not only French scientists are working in this direction. Their colleagues from the German company EnOcean are already preparing a commercial version of a similar product.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/3247/
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